So about a month ago I posted an ad on Craigslist that I wanted to buy old silver dollars. Last evening I get a phone call from a guy who says he has an old silver dollar coin but he doesn't really know anything about them. I asked a few questions and got some vague answers. He said it was Spanish and said 8 reales on it. Finally I suggested he send me photos of the coin. Below is what he sent me. The quality is bad but that's all I've got. I don't know anything about Spanish 8 Reales so I'm asking for opinions on authenticity, how to spot a fake, if there are many fakes, if anyones ever seen them in a case like the one pictured, or an idea on value. He said that it is a 1776. I don't have any of these but I figure if it's real and the price is right it's kinda cool. Your help is appreciated. Thanks
i have almost a complete set of those 'items'. they are replicas, not real. They arent even worth the $2 i paid lol - but they are interesting, and quite possibly the only way i would own one. Sorry, but i cant remember who put them out.
First off I see no pictures, second did you try googling or use the search function on this site for 8 Reales? http://search.reviews.ebay.com/8-Reales There are many books out there on how to spot fakes. Did the guy sound young or old? Did you ask him how he got them and how long he has had them? If he is trying to avoid them I may think they were stolen, so I would be cautious and how much did he say he wanted for them?
He sounded like he was in his early 30s maybe. Said he's had it for years. Didn't say where or how he aquired it. He told me he didn't know what it was worth but was willing to trade for RC cars/parts (his hobby) or sell for cash. We agreed to find out what we could and possibly meet this evening to let me have a look at it.
I am going to take a wild stab at it and say it may be a common counterfeit. (JUST MY OPINION..NO REAL KNOWLEDGE OF THIS COIN, JUST GOING OFF OF WHAT I HAVE BEEN READING) I state that because it's supposedly is a rare coin and can be worth a lot. Here's some prices of what it's selling for on ebay: http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_tr...&_nkw=1776+8+Reales&_sacat=See-All-Categories THe last one sold on HA in AU58 was in 2007 for $517.50 http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=441&Lot_No=51750 here's some talk from cointalk dtd 2005: http://www.cointalk.com/t8542/ not 1766 but still useful http://www.cointalk.com/t118672/
It appears to me to be the sort of thing one sees advertised in such magazines as "National Geographic" and "Smithsonian" or the Sunday 'Parade' magazine insert in the newspaper. Kind of a gimmicky thing. ---- The verbiage is printed upon simulated parchment. The elaborate story about "America's First Silver Dollar" and the classic figure of Washington crossing the Delaware speak an emotional appeal to the reader with disposable income. It may be authentic. Similar ads for Columbus half dollars in a $10 - $12 grade at only $30 or so per each ( sometimes a bit cheaper in quantity), or a half pound of 'gem-quality' rubies, or what-the-hell-have-ya are pretty common and apparently sucessfull. All plus S+H of course. ---- The faux parchment says it weighs 27 grams . That's 0.868 troy ounce. I can't read the fineness but multiply that number by 0.868 and that's how much actual silver the coin ( if genuine) actually contains.
The ones you see in National Geographic, Smithsonian, or Parade are usually genuine but low grade (and often polished) frequently sea slvage pieces. This particular holder can frequently be found on eBay and almost always, if not always, contains fakes. Usually poor quality fakes (cast pot metal.)
